By Ashley Karen
On May 25, a groundbreaking ceremony was held by Hong Kong’s MTR Corp to mark the official opening of major works for a project to realign and expand the Tung Chung Line.
The two significant civil works contracts have been granted for the project. A JV of Bouygues and Dragages will construct the 1·3 km western extension of the line and the new Tung Chung West station.
Also, a JV of Paul Y and CRCC is to shift 1·2 km of the current line between Tung Chung and Sunny Bay stations and construct a station at Tung Chung East to serve an area of recently reclaimed land.
While its CASCO Signal JV will provide the automatic train supervision subsystem, Alstom will supply SACEM automatic train control and Smartlock 400 interlocking technology.
The project will help the developments which are predicted to see the area’s population rise to 290 000 people.
MTR Corp CEO, Dr Jacob Kam, stated: “The team is keen to explore and adopt new technologies in the project, as well as to include elements of sustainable development to achieve better quality and greater efficiency of works”.
He continued: “Despite the challenges of carrying out construction works on an operating railway line, we will work collaboratively to move the project forward and extend the railway network with the commitment to provide reliable, efficient, and low-carbon railway services to serve more Hong Kong citizens.”
Concurrently, building the Tuen Mun South Extension, Kwu Tung Station on the East Rail Line and Oyster Bay Station is also scheduled to start later this year. Legal procedures or preparatory works are proceeding for the Northern Link Main Line, Hung Shui Kiu station and the Airport Railway Extended Overrun Tunnel.
